For Sale .416 Taylor- Frank Wells Custom + 40 New Brass

Frank Wells was a VERY good gunsmith! I haven't handled this rifle but the three of the wells rifles I have handled are spectacular. At the time I couldn't afford one (Or I would have owned all three).

I am building one for my wife she just doesn't know yet. That is the only reason that I am not in negotiation with the seller. I am just hoping to buy some of the head stamped brass once it sells.

The owner himself declared that he is selling the gun because he does not have ammo and does not reload! Is that a secret? No!
So its said loud and clear that ammo is a weak spot in the life of the 416 Taylor!
As a regular africa hunter, I just pointed out the worm in the apple that avaibility of ammo or at least right marked brass is imensly important with such a gun, because travelling with wrong brass on the black continent is customs sensitive, nerve taking and also expensive! So I‘m not talking the gun bad, I‘m just saying that the buyer has to be aware of that problem and best beeing independent when it comes to ammo!

Besides I sold myself a whole business on this platform and went through all this incl. critism and plenty discussions, but at the end with a smile!

TucsonFX4 said:

Your post deserves a thumbs down. This is a for sale ad and you are telling folks to not buy this gun.

How happy would you be if someone stood beside your car for sale and told everyone there is a better/cheaper/faster option down the road??

If you don’t want it or to support it, don’t post and move on.

Op, GLWS. It is beautiful!

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I agree, it is very poor form to criticize an item that is up for sale

I kind of want to buy this rifle even more since a certain member wants to be a rude Debbie downer on it. But this year's tax bill and that I already have one make that hard. GLWS on a beautiful and desirable rifle!

I got a 2nd hand Wells (300 WM) rifle that was exceedingly beautiful...so much so, that I cringed when taking it out hunting (the last hunt taking a nice Waterbuck with it using 200 gr Nos PTs!) 'Sold it to a guy that'll NEVER sell it back! He did say to keep in touch for next-of-kin info. lol Why I sold it, i have NO idea! It shot no less than 0.5" groups (and that with factory premium ammo!) *If the dark recesses are correct, it had the extended mag box and held 5 rds to boot!) Good Stuff.

Ammo IS available for the Taylor (even properly headstamped here in the United States of America as well as the EU by Norma!) It's become fairly popular.

IOW: Buy the Gun!




Plenty of other mfrs. Handloading it IS a snap and 'never encountered the headstamp issue in country that everyone cries about. Relax, keep your lederhosen on, and do what my Dr. ordered me to do (incorporate more beets into the diet!) Same as BP meds...

I'll take some of the brass that's not sold, too. 40 rds would be just fine. Where in AL? My son is in Auburn and he travels all over the SE!

JimmyJack54 said:

To answer a couple of question I received:

1. If you don’t need/want the brass, I’ll credit you $100 towards your purchase of the rifle.
2. I have an additional 250 pieces of new Norma brass in .416 Taylor that will be available to the purchaser of the rifle. Only if the rifle sells, and purchaser declines brass, will I list the brass for sale.

Thanks for looking, your messages, and the compliments.

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You can read a bit about Frank Wells and his work starting on page 335 in this book. If you do not have a copy, my condolences.

If I was not lusting after a 9.3 I would snag this. Very cool rifle, well built and not cut from the same cloth as what you typically find at a shop. I love all of those things!

C.W. Richter said:

I'll take some of the brass that's not sold, too. 40 rds would be just fine. Where in AL? My son is in Auburn and he travels all over the SE!

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I’m in Montgomery.

I agree that Frank Wells was an excellent gunsmith. For the price it's a helluva buy.

As already stated, Hendershots will load up ammo with properly headstamped brass. Superior ammunition is another option, possibly Pendleton's as well. The 416 Taylor, IMO, is highly underrated for the efficiency it has. You can also have it loaded with Northfork 430gr SS and CPS to 2200 fps or so & mimic the 404 Jeffery (of course the 404 has more case capacity & can be loaded to higher velocity).

I've personally considered the 416 Taylor for Brown Bear running the Northfork 370gr PP. I imagine it would be ideal.

LAST CALL.

I’ll suspend this listing on May 4. If the rifle doesn’t sell I will keep all of the brass. Thanks for looking.

etsonaut said:

Beautiful rifle! I am not a hand-loader either but Hendershots can load you up with your choice of 416 bullets and deliver them to you in a few short weeks.

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I have a 416 Taylor and ordered from Hendershots about 3 weeks ago and there halfway here. Good selection of bullets as well.

I’ve just replied to two DMs asking for additional details and/or terms related to this listing. I will give these two members the opportunity to purchase this rifle, in the next 24 hrs, based on the additional questions I’ve answered. Otherwise, the rifle is no longer for sale.

Rosch said:

The owner himself declared that he is selling the gun because he does not have ammo and does not reload! Is that a secret? No!
So its said loud and clear that ammo is a weak spot in the life of the 416 Taylor!
As a regular africa hunter, I just pointed out the worm in the apple that avaibility of ammo or at least right marked brass is imensly important with such a gun, because travelling with wrong brass on the black continent is customs sensitive, nerve taking and also expensive! So I‘m not talking the gun bad, I‘m just saying that the buyer has to be aware of that problem and best beeing independent when it comes to ammo!

Besides I sold myself a whole business on this platform and went through all this incl. critism and plenty discussions, but at the end with a smile!

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At least for now I’m safe. Hendershot came in right on time.

Wow! Found this listing by accident. I have this guns older first cousin (stamped Franks Custom Guns vs Built by Frank Wells, FFL search came to the same license in Tucson) also in 416 Taylor.